Hartwick College Reaches $50 Million Campaign Goal, Extends Target by $5 Million
When hundreds of students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends gathered on campus and learned of Hartwick’s new Together, We Soar campaign in the spring of 2024, few could have envisioned they’d be celebrating again just 17 months later. Yet, that’s exactly what happened at Friday night’s True Blue Weekend kickoff, as President James Mullen shared the news that the campaign’s $50 million goal has been reached.
The campaign’s public phase began April 8, 2024 – during a much-anticipated solar eclipse, which coincided with Hartwick’s annual Giving Day and Oneonta campus founding anniversary. At the time Mullen and Campaign Chair Colleen Connery ’83, with Board Chair Kathy Fallon ’88 adding her support, announced that $30 million in leadership gifts had been raised to date. The goal, they shared, was to raise the remaining $20 million by the fall of 2026 – and to celebrate its conclusion during that year’s True Blue Weekend.
Remarkably, it seems a great many donors simply couldn’t wait.
“The generosity shown by our alumni, colleagues and community has been astounding,” Mullen said, addressing hundreds of supporters as he kicked off the alumni weekend’s festivities. “The support we have received is at once humbling and invigorating. It provides a critical foundation for Hartwick’s innovative, student-centric role in higher education’s ever-changing landscape. It also increases access and opportunity for our students, preparing them to contribute and lead, both on campus and in their communities, long after they leave Oyaron Hill.”
Then, to capitalize on the momentum of the campaign and the occasion, the Board of Trustees announced that Together, We Soar would continue through the end of its original timeline, with an added goal of $5 million now targeted to be raised by June 2026.
“It’s clear to us that a growing number of our alumni and friends of the College recognize just how special Hartwick is,” said Connery. “They understand the impact it has had on their lives and the lives of so many others. They also realize the importance it has on the Greater Oneonta region, and they want to ensure that it continues transforming lives for generations to come.”
The campaign has focused on five pillars, each of which plays an integral role in formulating the unique, independent, impactful education which decades of graduates attest is the essence of the Hartwick experience. They include:
Access & Opportunity: Investing in scholarships and initiatives that ensure talented students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to thrive at Hartwick.
FlightPath: The Hartwick Experience: Building the structure and support systems students need to navigate their unique journeys and lead meaningful lives.
Academic Excellence: Funding bold new curriculum development, institutes and learning spaces to foster intellectual curiosity and innovation.
A Vibrant Living & Learning Community: Creating a dynamic and inclusive campus environment rich in artistic, athletic and cultural experiences; and
Innovating & Community Engagement: Strengthening initiatives in civic engagement, leadership development and creative expression, fostering a spirit of service and social responsibility within our graduates.
All totaled, the campaign has received 13,620 gifts from 4,100 donors, ranging from individuals and foundations to area businesses and government grants. Many have gone beyond financial contributions to include internships, job shadowing and other career-related opportunities, along with J Term experiences, guest lectures and more.
The campaign is also helping to bring numerous projects to life, including an expansion of the Perrella Cardio and Strength Training Center and related facilities, renovations to the Commons and investments in the Institute of Public Service as well as Pine Lake.
“This comprehensive campaign has generated valuable funds for scholarships, academic programs, operations and campus enhancements,” Fallon added. “We are thrilled that so many individuals have stepped up and given so generously of their resources, time and talents. It’s so wonderful to know their good will has exceeded our initial estimates.”
Many campaign gifts have come in the form of bequests, estate gifts and other vehicles with longer-term horizons. Thus, the need remains for real -time dollars that we can put to immediate use.
To contribute to the College’s new goal for the Together, We Soar campaign, visit www.hartwick.edu/togetherwesoar or contact the Office of Advancement at 607-431-4081 or [email protected].
